The artwork Encuentros presents a complex composition that juxtaposes three figures dressed in outfits reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s. These figures, made on tracing paper, confront and enhance the solemnity of elements from ancient Egyptian art. The dynamic strokes stylize and suggest energy and movement in their poses.
The neon color palette intensifies the contrast against a softer background composed of ochre, orange, and brown tones. This piece pays tribute to those who, during the 1970s and 1980s, created safe spaces within racialized communities in response to the intolerance and oppression they experienced in their biological and social environments.
The ballroom, which emerged in dance halls, drew inspiration from Egyptian hieroglyphics and acrobatic movements, as well as from fashion magazine models characterized by angular, linear, and rigid poses. However, the ballroom culture, later popularized by Madonna, generated discontent within the very community it came from, creating invisibility and distortion regarding its origins.
